Roku and Apple are two very different companies. That's clear. Yes, they both make small puck-like boxes that are currently the preferred ways to add a Netflix streaming brain to your dumb TV. But that's where the similarities stop. Apple's TV system is closed, so you can't do Amazon Prime streaming, or HBO Go, or any service that it didn't ship with. Roku takes a different tact: their boxes handle a whole lot. Prime streaming? Yep! Plex? You got it. Angry Birds on your TV? The Roku XS can do it.

The Rokus are absolutely phenomenal streaming video boxes. They're affordable, take minimal…
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There's one other difference between Roku and Apple worth mentioning. Apple keeps things simple. There's one Apple TV and it's always the same price. Roku is currently offering four different boxes at four different prices. But the Roku you really want is the top of the line model, the Roku 2 XS. Today from Amazon, it's $75.87 with free one-day shipping. That's a 25% discount and you'll still get it before Christmas. [Amazon]